I do not subscribe to the view that having twins is harder than coping with a single baby.
Yes, I did find it daunting when we first found out. I know that when I had the one baby 6 years earlier he had consumed all of my time and energy. I thought, though, people do manage and there are only 24 hours in the day. These twins can't take more looking after than there are hours available!
Of course, some things are more difficult. Breast feeding two simultaneously, for example. When both of them cry for attention at the same time, especially in the middle of the night.
Getting out of the house seems harder as there are 2 babies to dress, 2 nappies to change and twice as much stuff to take. By the time I'm ready to go it is often late afternoon and I have lost the will to make it!
The joy of twins, however, is that they keep each other company, they play together and entertain each other for hours. It is lovely to watch and lovely to leave them to it!
Monday, 30 November 2009
Friday, 27 November 2009
Twins Groups, Mother & Toddler Sessions, or just Going Out
My sister, mother of 4, was most impressed when I told her we were expecting twins.
"You'll be able to go to those Twins Groups," she sounded a little envious.
One mum & baby group she was never able to go to. As if baby gym, baby swim, baby music and baby play were not enough.
I went to a breast feeding group when the twins were just a few months. I think it started at about midday and I managed to get there at about 2.30 just when every one was leaving. Getting out of the house has been difficult and still is, they are 14 months old now.
There is a baby bounce and rhyme session at the library which we went to once. It starts at 11am. We are up before 8 every morning, but it is too much of a rush to get out of the house by 10.30. It is a non-stop round of wiping faces, hands and bums. Feeding, drinking, changing clothes and nappies. Eventually I may even get to do my own!
Then just when you think you might be ready to put out door clothes on a strap them in the pram one will poo. Whilst that one is getting another clean nappy the other will pull everything out of the cupboards.
I usually leave the house looking as if it has been ransacked. I think there is no way of getting 2 toddlers ready to go and clear up at the same time. At least if a burglar breaks in he will think we’ve already been done.
So, twins group. There is a local group and I believe it meets on a Saturday afternoon once a month. I have not made it there yet.
"You'll be able to go to those Twins Groups," she sounded a little envious.
One mum & baby group she was never able to go to. As if baby gym, baby swim, baby music and baby play were not enough.
I went to a breast feeding group when the twins were just a few months. I think it started at about midday and I managed to get there at about 2.30 just when every one was leaving. Getting out of the house has been difficult and still is, they are 14 months old now.
There is a baby bounce and rhyme session at the library which we went to once. It starts at 11am. We are up before 8 every morning, but it is too much of a rush to get out of the house by 10.30. It is a non-stop round of wiping faces, hands and bums. Feeding, drinking, changing clothes and nappies. Eventually I may even get to do my own!
Then just when you think you might be ready to put out door clothes on a strap them in the pram one will poo. Whilst that one is getting another clean nappy the other will pull everything out of the cupboards.
I usually leave the house looking as if it has been ransacked. I think there is no way of getting 2 toddlers ready to go and clear up at the same time. At least if a burglar breaks in he will think we’ve already been done.
So, twins group. There is a local group and I believe it meets on a Saturday afternoon once a month. I have not made it there yet.
Monday, 23 November 2009
You've Got Your Hands Full, Double Trouble
There are times when I think if I hear "DOUBLE TROUBLE" one more time... well, I do not know what...
What about double pleasure. "OOO aren't you lucky? Not one baby but two."
"Yes." I could agree, smiling with pride.
It is total strangers who are so rude, they take one look at me pushing the double buggy and feel they are qualified to declare: "double trouble."
“Rather you than me.”
“Are they good?”
How can they be bad? They were just a few months old, unable to move. How could they be bad at that age?
I can only think that these comment reflect a society which really is not very child friendly. Friends of mine from abroad have often commented on this aspect of British culture. In fact, look at the slogans on T shirts sold for babies and toddlers in major stores:
In fact, if you do not want your precious child to wear one of these horrible labels then you almost cannot buy anything in certain shops.
What about double pleasure. "OOO aren't you lucky? Not one baby but two."
"Yes." I could agree, smiling with pride.
It is total strangers who are so rude, they take one look at me pushing the double buggy and feel they are qualified to declare: "double trouble."
“Rather you than me.”
“Are they good?”
How can they be bad? They were just a few months old, unable to move. How could they be bad at that age?
I can only think that these comment reflect a society which really is not very child friendly. Friends of mine from abroad have often commented on this aspect of British culture. In fact, look at the slogans on T shirts sold for babies and toddlers in major stores:
- Little monkey
- Here comes trouble
- Little monster...
In fact, if you do not want your precious child to wear one of these horrible labels then you almost cannot buy anything in certain shops.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Twins with Non Identical Poo - 1 Baby with Anal Fissures
Most parents of babies are fascinated by their poo, or perhaps that is just me.
I have been intrigued by the twins poo. They have an identical diet but very different movements. In fact, you know when you walk into a room and you know one of the babies needs a new nappy. Well, I can even tell which baby has done it with out having to do the close up sniff test.
Baby boy has had his difficulties in that department. Shortly after solid food was started he became quite constipated. When he did open his bowels it was with much grunting, tears and obvious pain.
The Doctors diagnosed anal fissures (a small tear): a very common problem and anal fissures often reoccur. My mum thought he said anal fishes - which would have been medically unique!
There are various recommended remedies: salt baths, high fibre & plenty of water to prevent constipation and breast milk (only for babies, obviously). Baby had some special prescription cream applied to the area twice a day for a week, followed by much improvement.
Boy had, by this time, learnt a habit of holding on, putting off the inevitable and being anxious about it. The behaviour did not change immediately, but he clearly was not in pain any more. Over a number of months his bowel movements have become more frequent, usually daily, and slightly softer. They are an incredible size, though, for such a small bottom.
The girl baby, on the other hand, has consistently produced big, sticky, smelly, messy nappies far too frequently for my liking.
I have been intrigued by the twins poo. They have an identical diet but very different movements. In fact, you know when you walk into a room and you know one of the babies needs a new nappy. Well, I can even tell which baby has done it with out having to do the close up sniff test.
Baby boy has had his difficulties in that department. Shortly after solid food was started he became quite constipated. When he did open his bowels it was with much grunting, tears and obvious pain.
The Doctors diagnosed anal fissures (a small tear): a very common problem and anal fissures often reoccur. My mum thought he said anal fishes - which would have been medically unique!
There are various recommended remedies: salt baths, high fibre & plenty of water to prevent constipation and breast milk (only for babies, obviously). Baby had some special prescription cream applied to the area twice a day for a week, followed by much improvement.
Boy had, by this time, learnt a habit of holding on, putting off the inevitable and being anxious about it. The behaviour did not change immediately, but he clearly was not in pain any more. Over a number of months his bowel movements have become more frequent, usually daily, and slightly softer. They are an incredible size, though, for such a small bottom.
The girl baby, on the other hand, has consistently produced big, sticky, smelly, messy nappies far too frequently for my liking.
Friday, 13 November 2009
Proud to father non-identical twins
I will never forget when we found out that I was expecting twins at the 12 week scan.
That is, 12 week from the first day of my last period. I always found that strange. I had not been pregnant for 12 weeks. The little sparks of life were only ignited 10 weeks earlier.
The sonographer pushed the tool across my jelly-sodden stomach and there they were, as clear as day, two separate babies. I wasn’t completely surprised. No, there is no history of twin in my family. It did, however, explain why the extreme feelings of exhaustion and nausea associated with early pregnancy were not easing. More than that though, at only 12 weeks, or 10 weeks, of pregnancy I my tummy and breasts were visibly swollen.
Men are always proud of their manly potency that they have it in them to make a baby. Well, my hubby was like a dog with two... when it was explained to us that our non-identical twins were the result of two separate sperm. Yes, not one but two of his little swimmers made it to the finish line.
Proud, he was composing adverts as if he could be put out to stud.
That is, 12 week from the first day of my last period. I always found that strange. I had not been pregnant for 12 weeks. The little sparks of life were only ignited 10 weeks earlier.
The sonographer pushed the tool across my jelly-sodden stomach and there they were, as clear as day, two separate babies. I wasn’t completely surprised. No, there is no history of twin in my family. It did, however, explain why the extreme feelings of exhaustion and nausea associated with early pregnancy were not easing. More than that though, at only 12 weeks, or 10 weeks, of pregnancy I my tummy and breasts were visibly swollen.
Men are always proud of their manly potency that they have it in them to make a baby. Well, my hubby was like a dog with two... when it was explained to us that our non-identical twins were the result of two separate sperm. Yes, not one but two of his little swimmers made it to the finish line.
Proud, he was composing adverts as if he could be put out to stud.
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
New Car because of Twins
When we found we were having twins we quickly discovered we were going to have to change our car. This, we found, is common to most parents of twins, even if it is just to get one with a boot big enough for the buggy.
Our old, reliable Ford Escort did not have enough proper seat belts for hubby, me, 2 babies and one child in booster seat in the back. In fact, once the babies were in, it would have been hard for any one to sit in the middle even without a booster seat.
We got rid of the car whilst I was pregnant, as I became too big to fit behind the wheel. Then, when the twins were a few weeks old hubby turned up with a new car. New to us, that is, not new to the road, one previous owner.
Now, I was expecting a lovely Picasso. We had taken one on a test drive, very nice. So I was shocked to see something which looked like my old Ford Escort, but bigger.
We have a Vauhall Vectra. The plus points are that it has an incredible tardis boot. You can just keep putting stuff in and yet there is still room for more. The back seat has 3 proper seatbelt and you can just squeeze a booster seat between the two baby seats. I also like the way the driver seat moves about - not just forward and back but up and down.
The bad points. It is probably just me but I have a terrible time with windscreen wipers. Usually I find I'm flicking them on when trying to indicate that I'm turning. In this car, though, I've no idea how and why the rear wiper is sometimes activated. Once it is swishing away back there I bash the controls in every conceivable way trying to get it to stop, because I don't know how it works. I know I've not had this problem with other cars.
I have the same problems with the indicators. I flick them on, they do the "tinty-tenty" sounds for a few seconds and then turn off again, befor I have started to turn. So I am frequently stopping, turning and going around round-abouts with no indication to other road users. It is very frustrating.
Our old, reliable Ford Escort did not have enough proper seat belts for hubby, me, 2 babies and one child in booster seat in the back. In fact, once the babies were in, it would have been hard for any one to sit in the middle even without a booster seat.
We got rid of the car whilst I was pregnant, as I became too big to fit behind the wheel. Then, when the twins were a few weeks old hubby turned up with a new car. New to us, that is, not new to the road, one previous owner.
Now, I was expecting a lovely Picasso. We had taken one on a test drive, very nice. So I was shocked to see something which looked like my old Ford Escort, but bigger.
We have a Vauhall Vectra. The plus points are that it has an incredible tardis boot. You can just keep putting stuff in and yet there is still room for more. The back seat has 3 proper seatbelt and you can just squeeze a booster seat between the two baby seats. I also like the way the driver seat moves about - not just forward and back but up and down.
The bad points. It is probably just me but I have a terrible time with windscreen wipers. Usually I find I'm flicking them on when trying to indicate that I'm turning. In this car, though, I've no idea how and why the rear wiper is sometimes activated. Once it is swishing away back there I bash the controls in every conceivable way trying to get it to stop, because I don't know how it works. I know I've not had this problem with other cars.
I have the same problems with the indicators. I flick them on, they do the "tinty-tenty" sounds for a few seconds and then turn off again, befor I have started to turn. So I am frequently stopping, turning and going around round-abouts with no indication to other road users. It is very frustrating.
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